It has been a very productive 2024/25 year at Elwood Tennis Club, with significant achievements
in court development, competition and community engagement.
Our club is at full capacity with just under 500 members and a waiting list of 142 applications.
Membership retention has been outstanding, with around 95% of members renewing this year.
While demand remains strong, our ability to expand is limited by court availability. If we had
space for additional courts, we would be able to accommodate more members, but for now, our
focus is on optimizing the existing facilities for all members.
One of the most notable achievements this year was the completion of the tennis court
resurfacing in 2024/25. While it was a complex and lengthy project, I’m sure everyone would
agree that the end result is fantastic! Work included removing the old surface, installing root
barriers around the perimeter, extensive surface preparation, drainage works, installing new
retaining walls, laying an asphalt base and laying the new synthetic turf. Special thanks to Vice
President Dale O’Neill for his hard work and dedication in bringing this project to life.
The club’s finances remain in good shape. Our total income for 2024/25 was $251,866, resulting
in a net surplus of $156,889, including sponsorship $23,635 and grants of $119,706. In terms of
our balance sheet, the club has total net assets of $574,526, with bank deposits and cash of
$123,471. Thank you to our Treasurer, Kristian Kostov, for his preparation of our financial
accounts.
In line with our forecasts, our cash balances declined this year after the completion of the court
resurfacing project, but we have still been able to maintain a strong financial position to cover
any unexpected emergencies. Looking ahead, we’re beginning to set aside funds to ensure timely
court resurfacing, which is typically required every 10 years.
In our effort to strengthen the club’s reserves, we were successful in securing a major
sponsorship agreement with our local Bendigo Community Bank. We will continue exploring
future sponsorship opportunities to support our long-term goals. In addition, we secured
funding from Tennis Australia to help upgrade our club facilities, ensuring enhanced amenities
for our members.
Our relationship with the Port Phillip Council remains strong and constructive. We are grateful
for their support in funding our court resurfacing project and their repair work on the paving
around the club. We look forward to working with the Council on future initiatives.
We have engaged Tiger Turf to do quarterly maintenance of the tennis courts, which will help
preserve the condition of our tennis courts. A special thank you to Keith Herdman for all his help
with maintenance work around the club. Looking ahead, our priority will be maintaining the
tennis courts, enhancing the club facilities, and improving the surrounding garden area.
Our Book-a-Court system continues to operate smoothly and has been an excellent source of
additional revenue. In 2024/25, we generated $42,025 from the platform, further contributing to
the club’s financial health. I would like to acknowledge Jill Steele’s fantastic contribution to the
club in helping to organise and maintain the clubs court booking system.
Tennis activity remained strong throughout the year, with high participation in social play,
coaching programs, and competitions.
- In the Summer Bayside Tennis League, we entered four teams, with three advancing to the
finals. Congratulations to the Section 1 Men’s Doubles team on securing their fifth
consecutive Grand Final win! The Section 5 Mixed Team reached the Grand Final, narrowly
missing the title.
- The Mid-Week Ladies Competition saw strong representation from our club, with four teams
taking part—two on Wednesday and two on Thursday. A huge congratulations to our Section 1
Women’s Doubles team for their outstanding performance and well-deserved premiership
victory!
- The internal Tuesday Night Competition remains popular and continues to run smoothly.
Spots are currently open, contact the coach if you're keen to join in.
- The Friday Morning Ladies Social Competition enjoys a strong turnout, with 16 regular
players and a large pool of emergency players.
- A great mix of players turned out for our social doubles tournament in May. It was wonderful
to see players from the different teams come together to enjoy some tennis and a few snags
on the barbecue.
- A big thank you to our Coach, Nick Buck, who has continued to run a fantastic coaching
program for adults and juniors. If you are interested in lessons or the Tuesday night
competition, please contact Nick at 0417 346 073 or email [email protected].
We were saddened this year by the loss of two much-respected life members, Ray Greene and
Brian Dixon. Both were passionate champions of our club and served with distinction as past
Presidents. Their dedication and contributions have left a lasting mark. They will be remembered
with deep respect and affection.
Finally, I want to express my deep appreciation to all our volunteers. From team organizers to
committee members and maintenance crews, your efforts keep this club running at a high
standard. Without you, our club would not be the thriving community it is today!
We’re always keen to welcome new volunteers, whether you're interested in joining the
committee or lending a hand from time to time, your support truly makes a difference. If you’d
like to get involved, we’d love to hear from you!
Elwood Tennis Club continues to grow, and with strong financials, an enthusiastic membership,
and dedicated volunteers, our future is bright. I look forward to another fantastic year ahead!
John Bailey
President